This year's convention items

Pertinent issues to be voted upon at National Convention in June:

1. Proposal to Amend the Bylaws:
   
   Article II, Section 1 - When a Regional Director seat is up for election, at least two candidates must meet both requirements: 1. File a conflict of interest statement by March 1. 2. Attend annual meeting and participate in the election process, unless excused by nominating committee. If these conditions are not met, that Regional Director position shall become an at-large position for two terms unless the position is held by an incumbent.
   **BYLAW PASSED**
   
   
2. Resolutions:
   
   1. Minnesota proposed that the association raise the age a calf may be registered for free under the complete program. Also proposing other measures to assist dairymen in registering calves that would ease the financial burden during this tough dairy economy.
   The board did not support this resolution. Stating there were many ways for members to take advantage of lower registration fees through complete. They stated the average registry application cost 10.95 in 2018.
   The resolution was moved and brought before the delegates. After much discussion from the floor, the delegate body voted the resolution down with a close voice vote.
   
   2. Ohio brought forth a resolution to institute a 'Registration and Transfer Catch Up program' for a set determined length of time with reduced registration rates (such as $10.00) to assist dairymen during these financially difficult times and to keep animals in the registered herdbook.
   The board did not support this resolution as well for the same reasons stated above.
   
   However, the resolution was moved and brought before the delegate body and also elicited much discussion. It was the consensus of the delegates that this would be good way for the association to meet its members half way during these difficult times. Recognizing that both parties lost money in 2018. Motion passed by a voice vote of the delegates. The resolution will now come before the board.
   
   3. Thanks for hosting to the Wisconsin association
   
   
3. Election of new officers: Directors for Region Pres., VP, 1, 4, 6, and At-Large
   
   Declared candidate for President:

   Corey Geiger, Wisconsin **ELECTED**
   
   

   Declared candidates for Vice-President:
   

   Roy Buessing, Kansas
   Johnathan Lamb, New York **ELECTED**k
   
   

   Declared candidate for Region 1 Director:

   Steven Keene, Maine **ELECTED**
   

   Declared candidates Region 4 Director:
   

   Benjamin Newberry, Georgia **ELECTED**
   
   

   Declared candidate for Region 6 Director:
   

   Spencer Hackett, Rice, Minnesota **ELECTED**
   

   Michael Schiller, Freeport, Minnesota
   
   

   Declared candidates for At-Large Director:
   

   Peter Dueppengiesser, Wisconsin **ELECTED**
   
   

Eastern Wisconsin was the destination for this year's National Holstein Convention. Wisconsin showed attendees a wonderful time and showcased their many exceptional herds and cows! There were a wide variety of activities and sights to chose from. The Missouri delegation that traveled north this year consisted of: 7 juniors and 12 adults: Dallas & Debbie Cornelius, Kate & Sophia Geppert, Susan & Amanda Brooks, Larry, Jodi, Lora & Blake Wright, Katie Wantland, Reagan & Ada Bluel, Janice Perry, Shannon & Colton Kleiboeker, Betty & Roper Voskamp, Shauna Jones.

Appleton, Wisconsin boasted beautiful cows and farms, home of the Green Bay Packers, Waterparks, goats, glass, boat rides and much so much more if you were up to exploring.

The juniors participated in Dairy Bowl, Banner, Folding Display, Public Speaking, Holstein Women's Scholarship, ran for a Jr Advisor Committee position, and competed in the National Distinguished Junior competition. Check out the junior page to see how our juniors did. They represented our state well!

There were several tours and sights for the attendees to see. Here is a glimpse of the travels! The Missouri delegation split up and saw many different tours.

Convention Reports:

1. State of the Association: John Meyer gave the state of the association report. The association took a hit this year along with the suffering dairy economy. Operating revenue was down almost 1.2 million dollars or 6% and operating expenses were down 1% with a net loss from operations of 1.4 million. Couple the loss from operations along with a loss from Holstein services and a 3.5 million loss on the Reserve fund puts the total decrease in net assets at 3.9 million for 2018.
   
   While all revenue services were down in participation except for the dairy records processing of ATA they did try to curb expenses as well and most of those costs were down or nearly even for 2018.

   OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS:
   

2. Foundation Committee Report - By: Judy Iager, Chairman of the Foundation Committee
   The foundation had $185,000 in donations in 2018. Total investments are 6 million. The 11th class of YDLI is in progress.

   The 25th anniversary of YDLI is in 2019 and they are hosting a leadership conference following the national convention in Wisconsin.

3. Show Committee Report - Dale Drendal
   
   Summer Jr 2-Year Old Class will be at Expo this year. The 2019 Judges conference was held in Ohio.
   2020 application for judges list by August 1. Send photo, bio, and your judging high lites
   2020 judging conference to be at RuAnn/Maddox Dairy, California, March 13, 2020.

4. Legislative Affairs Committee - Pete Duppengeiser
   Continues to support the Dairy Pride Act and supports the Dairy Price Stabilization Program.

5. Type Committee - Steve Keene
   Classification and set participation is down. Classifiers are collecting data on heel warts. It is difficult to detect sometimes depending on where cattle are viewed. Looking into adding rear leg side view back into Foot & Leg Composite score. The category of Rear Teat Closeness is also a real problem in the industry and will be addressed by committee.

6. Genetic Advancement Committee
   Hosted a speaker from the US Swine industry to speak on how the Holstein industry can learn from the swine industries experiences. The industry is seeing the bull studs purchase the genetic female base so that they can produce the sires they want without going through the breeders. This consolidates the genetic base and limits the influence of breeders and genetics. This is what happened in the swine industry about 15 - 20 years ago. Currently there are virtually no small breeders and limited genetics in the swine industry. The GAC also is looking at updating the TPI formula. Many are wanting a $ value formula for the TPI so that it compares more to a NM$ or GM$ to have more impact internationally.

7. Genetic Advancement Committee - Grant Program
   The Holstein grant program was instituted two years ago. In 2017 they approved 80K for a 1.5 year project on how genomic information can be employed to manage inbreeding. In 2018 they approved 232,000 for a 3 year project on the results of breeding Holstein cows for heat tolerance using the slick hair gene.

   Future convention schedule:
   2020 - Pennsylvania; 2021 - Ohio; 2022 - Minnesota/South Dakota; 2023 - Kentucky
   
   

Photos from Convention - See farms visited and junior events!
Click on image to view or use arrows to advance image.

MISSOURI JUNIORS HAD A GREAT CONVENTION!
Don't forget to visit the junior page to see how our youth are leading the pack and find out contest details.

State Fair LATE FEES WAIVED for 2019

**JUST RELEASED** Due to the extreme weather and flooding that have occurred in Missouri this year, the Missouri State Fair will be waiving all late fees for entries that are not received by the published deadline. The final deadlines for late entries will still be firm, however no late fee will be assessed.

“The Missouri State Fair Commission understands that the agriculture community has endured many hardships this past year because of extreme weather conditions in the state,” Fair Director Mark Wolfe said. “Some of our Fair families have been focused on weather-related issues and just haven’t had the opportunity to prepare their Fair entries. The final late entry deadlines will still have to apply in order for our staff and superintendents to have necessary information to prepare for the shows, but during this time, no late fees will be assessed for entering competitions in 2019.”

LATE DAIRY ENTRY DEADLINE: JULY 25

Exhibitors under age 13 will be admitted free to the 11-day Fair again this year, while exhibitors age 13 and over will be able to purchase up to 40 single-day exhibitor admission tickets at a special price of $5. The discounted exhibitor tickets are available to order from the Fair business office at the time of competition entry. These tickets will not be available at the gate, and they do not include exhibitor parking. Entry deadline is July 1, 2019.

To enter online, visit www.mostatefair.com, click on 'Online Registration' or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).